Shelving for bottles and other goods



Nov. 24, 1959 N. B. GEDDES ETAL 4,

SHELVING FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER GOODS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15,1956 m mu m Q Maw. mm N m at Q GI w mm I m \N Y I. III! .v B ww w .\v YW\\ v 1 1% w :\\.v T L m 1. 1 I HLLII v v ,1 1r d...

Nov. 24, 1959 B- GEDDES ETAL 2,914,190

SHELVING FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER GOODS Filed Nov. 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS. NORMAN'BEL GEDDES 8 LELAND W. KING fheir ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 24, 1959 N- B. GEDDES ETAL 9 SHELVING FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER GQODSFiled Nov. 15, 1956 3 Sheets-$heet 3 5 4 :5 [H I :14? W "WI" 23 l W Z 2r FIG. 5. W i FIG. 6. 1 g 2*"5X \J w ya 4 f4 /6 I REEL 2E ll mm 24/ [050 z; F/G.8. L 2.7 L 1' 1:? FIG] HHHI HF III m} L w J i f X4 Z IINVENTORS.

NORMAN BEL GEDDES 8 LELAND W. KING VKHWW their ATTORNEYS FIG. 9. BY

United States Patent SHELVING FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER GOODS Norman BilGeddes, New York, and Leland W. King, Port Chester, N.Y., assignors toSchenley Industries, Inc., ew York, N.Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication November 15, 1956, Serial No. 622,388

3 Claims. ((31. 211-148) This invention relates to novel shelving forgoods particularly bottles, cases and cartons.

The invention provides a novel shelving structure of open frameworkconstruction, and is composed of units which telescope into each otherand interlock into a rigid formation. Goods may then be displayed on theshelves thereof in any desired array, or by leaving them enclosed intheir shipping containers forstorage.

It is also an object of the inventionto provide a unique arrangement ofshelving that enables telescoping and interlocking units thereoftogether to meet the requirements for the same.

A feature of the invention permits the assembly or disassembly ofportions of the shelving construction as the need arises, therebyproviding a wide variety of assembly arrangements to make it possibleito use in the most elficient manner, any given space for the storage,and/ or display of goods.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures andarrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation 'ofa typical assembly of four shelving unitsshown partially in broken verticalsection, together with fragmentaryportions of superposed and adjacent units.

Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. ltaken along the .line .22.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the .line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section 'on'the line 44 of .Fig. .3.

Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are sectional views illustrating the method bywhich the units are telescoped and interlocked to provide a rigidstructure, with Fig. 7 taken along lines 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 99 of Fig. .8, showing themethod of supporting non-interlocking horizontal means and crossbars.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings wherein the novel shelvingconstruction assembly is generally identified by the numeral 10, thebasis for the shelving assembly resides in what is termed a basic orbase unit. The base or basic unit is identified generally by the numeral12 (Fig. 1).

The basic unit 12 is employed in the shelving assembly 19 in such manneras to be built upon to expand the system upwardly in height and alsosideways in length. The shelving system 10 is expanded in height byadding further units 12, one on top of the other. It is expanded inlength by spacing additional units 12 from each other and supportingfiller shelving units 14 therebetween.

The basic unit 12 is comprised of four vertical or upright posts orpillars 16 of hollow detail. Secured to the pillars 16 of each unit 12are front and back cross beams tending in depth of the shelving system10. The crossbars 18 interconnect and secure together as by welding orother permanent connection, the front and rear aligned pillars 16.Extending in lengthwise securement of the 2,914,190 Patented Nov. 24,195$? pillars 16 of each unit '12 arefrontandback cross beams 20 andintermediately positioned beams or shelves 22 that interconnectthecrossbars '18. The three lengthwise beams 20 and 22 aligned in ahorizontal plane, define a shelf level between the pillars 16 of eachbase unit 12. The shelves of each unit 12 may thus be of varied heightand number.

A complete shelving system of any length may be constructed with anumber of units 12 located lengthwise across a space or wall. Each unit12 is adapted to permit its use with a filler unit 14 therebetween. Todo this, the'units 12 areeach provided with locking apertures 24 definedin the pillars 16 thereof, in opposed alignment with the crossbeamshelving 20. The apertures 24 are substantially square in shape toaccept locking fingers or lugs 26 projecting from both ends of the crossbeams 28 and 29 of the filler shelving unit 14.

The locking fingers or lugs 26 are each adapted to project into thelockingapertures .24, and are .provided with undercuts ornotches 30 that.engage with 'the'wall's of the pillars 16 as defined by the lockingapertures 24. When the projections 26-are so secured 'to the pillars 16between two adjacent but spaced units 12, as seen .in Figs. v1 and 3,.the spaced :units 12 are also held from relative movement. .Furtherintermediate crossbeam shelves 32 of the filler unit 14 .are positionedin alignment between the .two spaced adjacent units .12. The beams 32are of non-interlocking construction, and may be trapezoidal incross-section, or of any other suitable shape.

The intermediate filler beams 32 have finger projections 34 that arepreferably shaped'in the :formation ofa trapezoid, to fit intonon-locking apertures 36 defined 'in the sides of the crossbars 18,which apertures are also trapezoidal in shape. The cooperation definedbetween the 'walls of the finger 34 and the walls of the aperture 36,limits the tilting or pivoting of the cross beams 32.

The shelving system 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises .four basic units, 12A,B, C, and D, with filler units 14 interconnecting the units 12A and Btogether, and 12C and D together. The lowermost units 12A and B, eachcontain three vertically spaced .sctS of shelves, while the upper unitsand D, each contain two vertically spaced sets of shelves, it beingrecognized that each set of shelves is defined by the two cross beams 20and an intermediate cross beam 22.

When the like upper units 12C and D are :superposed onto theirrespective like lower units 12A and B, they are securely mounted toprevent their relative displacement. This is accomplished -in a veryunique manner. Each one of the basic units 12 is provided with atelescoping, narrowed leg 38 that terminates at a Shoulder 4-0 (Figs..5, 6 and 7;).

The legs 38 are of slightly smaller size and of the same cross-sectionas the .hollow of the pillars 16, so that they may extend downwardlythereinto. The legs 38 are of sufiicient length as to assure againstaccidental displacement from their position within :the :.pillars 16.Although the drawings show :the' 'legs'38 to be of :much smaller sizethan the hollow of the pillars, this has been done for the purpose ofexplanation of the structure only, and to show its manner of assembly.It will be recognized that the size of the legs 38 need be smaller onlyto such extent as to permit their insertion into the hollow of thepillars 16 up to the shoulders 49.

Each leg 33 has a locking aperture 42 defined therein at the upperportion thereof and located thereon for alignment With the lockingaperture 24. Hence, when a filler unit 14 is employed between two spacedadjacent units 12, the filler cross beams 28 are locked to the pillars16 by first aligning the aperture 42 with the aperture 24, and theninserting the finger 26 into the aligned apertures. The telescopinglength 38 is then lowered into the hollowed pillar 16 therebeneath,until its move ment is arrested by its shoulder 40.

The downward telescoping movement of leg 38 misaligns its aperture 42with aperture 24, and thus moves the finger 26 downwardly with it. Inconsequence of the described movements, the locking of the cut or notch30 engages with the wall of the pillars 16. The filler cross beam 28 isthus locked to the pillars 16 and cannot be removed therefrom withoutfirst realigning the apertures 42 and 24.

From what has been described, it will be clear that when two units 12are spaced from each other, a third filler unit 14 may be added, thusproviding a shelving construction of three units. Any desired number ofbasic units 12 may be superposed upon the lowermost unit. Suchsuperposed units may also have any desired number and spacing ofhorizontally disposed shelves.

The shelving units may be formed as hollow tubular beams having a squareor rectangular cross-section of any suitable size. They may be of anymetal, although extruded aluminum has been found to be suitable becauseof its lightness. The cross beams of the basic units 12 are generallyelectrically welded to the pillars 16.

In any single installation of the invention, the end units 12 of theshelving construction 10, will not support the filler units 14.Accordingly, it is possible to make the initial installation with atleast two units 12 that differ from the standard units only in that theydo not contain the openings 24 and 42 in the pillars thereof.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferredembodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A shelving assembly comprising a plurality of vertically tieredsuperposed identical preassembled basic shelf units, each of saidpreassembled basic units having a plurality of upright pillars, saidpillars each having an opening at the tops thereof and a narrowed leg atthe bottom thereof, said legs of said vertically tiered superposedpreassembled basic units being telescopically inserted into saidopenings of underlying preassembled basic units to retain saidtelescopic units in vertically tiered superposed alignment, lockingapertures in said pillars at said openings and legs thereof facinghorizontally in the direction of further horizontally spaced verticallytiered superposed preassembled basic units, horizontally disposed fillercross beams extending between said horizontally spaced vertically tieredsuperposed basic shelf units and securing the same together in saidhorizontal spaced relationship, said filler beams each having notchedlocking finger means projecting horizontally therefrom at opposite endsthereof into said apertures of said openings of said pillars and of thetelescoping leg of a superposed preassembled basic unit, whereby theaperture of said telescoping leg of said superposed basic unit receivesthe locking finger therein to move the notched means on said finger intolocking engagement with a wall of the aperture of said opening as thetelescoping leg moves progressively into said opening, cross beamssecuring said pillars upright, certain of said cross beams of saidpreassembled basic units each having trapezoidal openings therein andfurther filler cross beams extending between said spaced preassembledbasic units, each of said filler beams having a trapezoidal projectionon the opposite ends thereof and inserted into a corresponding one ofsaid trapezoidal openings.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the legs of said verticallytiered basic units terminate in shoulder portions, said shoulderportions resting on the tops of said pillars whereby the lower walls ofthe apertures of said pillars receive said notched means and the upperwalls of said telescoping legs engage said locking fingers to misalignthe apertures so that the filler cross beams are locked and cannot beremoved until the apertures are again aligned.

3. A shelving assembly comprising a plurality of vertically tieredsuperposed identical preassembled basic shelf units, each of saidpreassembled basic units having a plurality of upright pillars, saidpillars each having an opening at the top thereof and a narrowed leg atthe bottom thereof, said legs of said vertically tiered superposedpreassembled basic units being telescopically inserted into saidopenings of underlying preassembled basic units to retain saidtelescopic units in vertically tiered superposed alignment, lockingapertures in said pillars at said openings and legs thereof facinghorizontally in the direction of further horizontally spaced verticallytiered superposed preassembled basic units, horizontally disposed fillercross beams extending between said horizontally spaced vertically tieredsuperposed basic shelf units and securing the same together in saidhorizontal spaced relationship, said filler beams each having notchedlocking finger means projecting horizontally therefrom at opposite endsthereof into said apertures of said openings of said pillars and of thetelescoping leg of a superposed preassembled basic unit, whereby theaperture of said telescoping leg of said superposed basic unit receivesthe locking finger therein to move the notched means on said finger intolocking engagement with a wall of the aperture of said opening as thetelescoping leg moves progressively into said opening and cross beamssecuring said pillars upright.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 29,607Lytle Aug. 14, 1860 1,125,670 Duke Jan. 19, 1915 1,320,982 Boyle Nov. 4,1919 1,473,817 Gorsline Nov. 13, 1923 1,581,487 Kohler Apr. 20, 19262,092,022 Rieger Sept. 7, 1937 2,439,049 Lesko Apr. 6, 1948 2,654,487Degener Oct. 6, 1953 2,738,883 Wineman Mar. 20, 1956

